Russia suspends GMO corn imports

Russia's consumer rights watchdog,
Rospotrebnadzor, said Tuesday it has suspended the import and use of
genetically modified corn made by Monsanto Co. (MON) following a study's
allegations that the crop causes cancer.

Rospotrebnadzor said the country's Institute of Nutrition has been
asked to assess the validity of the study, while the European
Commission's Directorate General for Health & Consumers has also
been contacted to explain the European Union's position.

The study, conducted by the University of Caen in France, alleged
that rats fed over a two-year period with the U.S. chemical company's
genetically modified NK603 corn, developed more tumors and other severe
diseases than a test group fed with regular corn.

The study also alleged that rats fed with NK603 and exposed to
Monsanto's Roundup weed killer suffered from more pathologies than the
test group.

Last week Monsanto said it did not think the French study would
affect its license to export the NK603 to Europe but would wait to hear
from the European Food Safety Authority, or EFSA, which has been asked
by the European Commission to also look into the research.

"Based on our initial review, we do not believe the study presents
information that would justify any change in EFSA's views on the safety
of genetically modified corn products or alter their approval status for
genetically modified imports," it said.